E-news
Number 13, December 2006
This E-news is issued every other month to inform the international drug abuse research community about:
- What’s New
- Funding Opportunities
- The Research Training and Exchange Program
- Meetings
- Public Announcements from NIDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Other Items of Interest
- Reading Corner
What’s New
Register Now for the 2007 NIDA International Forum
NIDA-Supported Researchers Identify New Injection Practice Among Tanzanian Women
Dr. Mark Williams, University of Texas at Houston and colleagues (Dr. Sheryl McCurdy, University of Texas at Houston; Dr. Gad P. Kilonzo and Dr. M. T. Lesheaberi, University of Muhumbili, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania) presented [PPT 1.4 MB] their recent epidemiological findings on Tanzanian IDUs and HIV at a conference December 1, 2006 - World AIDS Day - at the University of Muhumbili. The research was supported by a NIDA International Program collaborative research supplement (NOT-02-003) and a subsequent R21 (DA19394). The binational research team reports that heroin injection and risky injection practices are continuing to increase in Dar Es Salaam and spreading outward to neighboring communities. Using modified snowball sampling and outreach, the team recruited 537 heroin IDUs in Dar Es Salaam (318 male, 219 female); 42% of whom tested HIV positive (27% among males, 64% among females). The team observed a new and unusual practice among women IDUs - termed “flashblood” - where IDUs share blood-filled syringes after one has injected heroin. The research has been published in AIDS Care, June 2005; 17(Supplement 1): S65-S76; Drug and Alcohol Dependence 82 Supplement 1(2006): S23-S27; andAIDS Behavior DOI 10.1007/s10461-006-9102-x. Participants at the conference included representatives from the University of Muhumbili medical faculty; the Tanzanian Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Youth; the Tanzanian Ministry of Health; other Tanzanian officials; and invited media. The binational research team also met with Tanzanian Deputy Minister of Labor, Employment, and Youth Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi on October 18, 2006.
NIDA and CICAD Cosponsor Latin American Epidemiology Group and Iberoamerican Conference of National Observatories on Drugs
The initial meeting of the Latin American epidemiology group, Red Epidiemiologica de Drogas para Latinoamerica (REDLA), took place in Cartagena, Colombia, December 10 - 12, 2006. REDLA is a joint effort between NIDA and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) at the Organization of American States to create a drug epidemiology network for Latin America that parallels NIDA's Community Epidemiology Working Group (CEWG) in scope and purpose. NIDA's support for REDLA is part of the Institute's Latin American Initiative. The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Marya Hynes Dowell, CICAD, and Dr. Ivan Montoya, NIDA Division of Pharmacotherapies and Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse. Representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the United States summarized the drug use situation in their countries, identifying reliable sources of information for future investigations. In addition to their discussions about drug use patterns in the hemisphere and future activities for REDLA, participants discussed ways to integrate REDLA activities with those sponsored by the National Observatories on Drugs. The REDLA participants then joined the Third Iberoamerican Conference of National Observatories on Drugs, which was held December 11-15, 2006, in Cartagena and cosponsored by NIDA, OAS/CICAD, the Spanish Plan Nacional Sobre Drogas, and the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional. Dr. Montoya's plenary session presentations during the Iberoamerican Conference addressed the role of drug abuse research on public policy, U.S. methodologies to conduct surveys of students and the general population, and morbidity indicators. Participants in both meetings included Dr. Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Chair, International Collaborations, National Hispanic Science Network; 2004 DISCA Scientist Dr. Helena Barros, Brazil; and 2003-2004 Humphrey Fellow Dr. Vladimir Stempliuk, Brazil.
UNAIDS/WHO 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update Cites Need for Targeted Prevention Programs
The UNAIDS/WHO 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update reports that the number of people living with HIV continues to grow, as does the number of deaths attributed to AIDS, and that some countries are seeing a resurgence in new HIV infection rates which were previously stable or declining. Injection drug use continues to be a major vector of HIV transmission: in 2005, non-sterile injection equipment caused 67% of prevalent HIV infections in Eastern Europe and Central Asia; 19% in Latin America; and 22% in South and South-East Asia (excluding India). The new data also show that HIV prevention programs achieve better outcomes when the programs are sustained, targeted to at-risk populations, and adapted regularly to the changing local epidemic.
Funding Opportunities
NIH Requires Detailed Budgets From Non-U.S. Grant Applicants
Beginning October 1, 2006, all competing National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant applications from non-U.S. institutions must include only detailed (non-modular) budgets. NIH announced the change in late August 2006 by publishing a notice, NOT-OD-06-096, in the NIH Guide. Domestic researchers may continue to use the modular budget format for grant applications.
Are You Ready For Electronic Submission Of Grant Applications?
R01 applications require electronic submission for February 2007 and beyond. Visit Grants.gov and the NIH Office of Extramural Research for more information.
Existing NIDA-Supported Funding Opportunities:
- Ongoing NIDA International Program Research and Training Opportunities
(in English and Spanish) - PAR-06-459: Bioengineering Research Partnerships (R01)
(Expires: January 23, 2007) - PAR-05-140: AIDS International Training and Research Program
(This is a re-issue of PA-03-018. Expires December 27, 2007.) - PAR-06-436: International Research Collaboration - Basic Biomedical (FIRCA-BB) (R03)
(Expires: January 22, 2008. NOTE: Applications MUST be submitted electronically.) - PA-06-050: International Research Collaboration on Drug Addiction (R01)
(Expires: January 3, 2009) - PA-06-444: The Development of Frontal Cortex and Limbic System and Their Roles in Drug Abuse or Mental Health (R01)
(Expires: July 2, 2009) - PA-06-445: The Development of Frontal Cortex and Limbic System and Their Roles in Drug Abuse or Mental Health (R21)
(Expires: July 2, 2009. NOTE: Applications MUST be submitted electronically.) - PA-06-438: Research on the Reduction and Prevention of Suicidality (R01)
(Expires: July 2, 2009) - PA-06-439: Risk Factors for Psychopathology Using Existing Data Sets (R01)
(Expires: July 2, 2009) - PA-06-133: NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00)
(Expires March 2, 2009)
Other Funding Opportunities
- Fogarty International Center
- Directory of International Short-Term Travel Grants in the Health Sciences
- Program Application Deadlines and Review Cycle Dates
- NIH Office of Extramural Research — Funding Opportunities and Notices
Research Training and Exchange Updates
For current information on NIDA and NIH training and exchange programs, please visit the following Web pages:
Calling All Former NIDA Fellows
As part of its ongoing efforts to document the success of former NIDA INVEST and Hubert H. Humphrey Drug Abuse Research Fellows, the NIDA International Program is asking the drug abuse professionals to answer a brief online survey. Please help!
- NIDA INVEST or Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow Evaluation
- NIDA DISCA/USDISCA Scientist Evaluation
Ongoing NIDA International Program Research and Training Exchange Programs
- INVEST Drug Abuse Research Fellowship for postdoctoral scientists
- DISCA and USDISCA-istinguished International Scientist Collaboration Awards for senior scientists and their international research partners
- NIDA Hubert H. Humphrey Drug Abuse Research Fellowship for mid-career drug abuse professionals from eligible countries.
Highlighting NIDA International Program Fellows
Fogarty International Center
The Fogarty International Center, the international component of the NIH, addresses global health challenges through innovative and collaborative research and training programs and supports and advances the NIH mission through international partnerships.
- NIH Grants Information
- Programs and Initiatives
- Program Application Deadlines & Review Cycle Dates
- Fogarty International Center / Ellison Medical Foundation - Overseas Fellowships in Global Health and Clinical Research: Are you a graduate-level U.S. student in the health professions? The Fogarty International Center/Ellison Medical Foundation offers Clinical Research Training Fellowships that provide a 1-year clinical research training experience at top-ranked, NIH-funded research centers in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America.
The Research Assistant
NIDA-funded online research tool for behavioral scientists.
Meetings
Calendar of Major Scientific Meetings in Drug Abuse Research
Press Releases
Other Items of Interest
NOTE: The following information is being provided for informational purposes only. Reference to any Website listed below does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by NIDA/NIH/HHS.
- The International Society of Addiction Medicine offers an International Certification in Addiction Medicine for physicians.
Web-Based Information and Professional Development Activities for Neuroscientists
- The Society for Neuroscience has developed a two-page Brain Research Success Story about Opiate Addiction, highlighting the impact of research advances on treatment and outlining potential outcomes of future research. Similar reports are available for 22 other topics.
- Neuroscientists can find web lectures, seminars, symposia, outlines of research methods, and professional development opportunities online from the International Affairs Committee /U.S. National Committee (IAC-USNC). IAC-USNC facilitates the dissemination of knowledge to neuroscientists, particularly those in underdeveloped countries; promotes research or professional training activities across international borders; and enhances public awareness of neuroscience worldwide. IAC-USNC is jointly appointed by the Society for Neuroscience and the National Academy of Sciences, and represents the interests of both organizations in the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO). It is partially supported by NIDA, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
- The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) has begun providing resources for neuroscience education through its IBRO-Edu project, which is identifying, evaluating and providing organized access to online educational materials in neuroscience.
Access to Free or Low Cost Online Publications for Researchers
- International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP)
- HINARI - Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative
Reading Corner
Look here for research articles or other publications that may be of interest to the international drug abuse research community.
- PubMed Citations for Former INVEST and Humphrey Drug Abuse Research Fellows
- Get Automated PubMed Updates From My NCBI
NOTE: The following information is being provided for informational purposes only. Reference to any Website listed below does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by NIDA/NIH/HHS.
- Publishing Addiction Research Internationally: www.PARINT.org
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